The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) has launched a nationwide stakeholder engagement drive aimed at addressing concerns over power supply reliability and improving service delivery.

The engagement, which started in Kira Municipality, brings together UEDCL officials and local leaders to discuss the causes of frequent power interruptions, ongoing network improvement projects and concerns raised by electricity consumers.

Isaac Katewanga, UEDCL's Acting Chief Commercial and Operations Services Officer, said the company was implementing both short-term interventions and long-term infrastructure investments to address network constraints and meet growing electricity demand.

Among the projects, he said, is the upgrade of the transformer at Kawanda Substation, which is expected to ease capacity constraints affecting consumers in Naalya and Kyaliwajala.

Katewanga said the transformer upgrade is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

He said UEDCL was also deploying additional transformers in heavily loaded areas, replacing strained transformers with higher-capacity units and replacing damaged electricity poles and conductors as part of efforts to improve network reliability.

Samson Tondo, the Head of Engineering Services for UEDCL's Central Region, said the interventions are expected to benefit more than 80,000 customers in Kira, Namugongo, Kyaliwajala, Bulindo, Kitukutwe, Nsasa, Nabusugwe, Naalya, Kasangati, Najjera, Kitikifumba, Nakwero, Kijabijjo, Bukerere and Sonde, among other areas.

Tondo said the company was also working with the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) to support plans to increase Greater Kampala's transmission capacity from 80 megawatts to 200 megawatts.

He said the planned expansion would provide additional capacity to support the growing demand for electricity in the Greater Kampala area.

UEDCL said the stakeholder engagement drive will provide a platform for consumers and local leaders to raise concerns, while enabling the company to explain ongoing interventions and gather feedback on electricity distribution services.